A Country Falls (Greatest Thief 3)

Chapter Fifteen

Morning came far too soon.

I woke early, and was unable to fall back asleep. I tried to stay still in Tannix's arms and enjoy what time I had left, but anxious energy made me carefully slip out of bed. I got dressed in my loose sleeping pants and Tannix's old, soft tunic that I had claimed before our trip to Navire. In my pile of clothes from the day before, I found the Zianesa amulet and squeezed it in my palm. I had run out of chances to give it to him. It was now or never.

I climbed back onto the bed cautiously, not wanting to wake him. I settled down beside him with my legs crossed, and looked at him. He seemed so peaceful, breathing slowly and steadily, his mind free from what was going to happen.

I dreaded the coming months, even though I knew someone as important as Tannix wasn't likely going to be fighting in the front lines. Even though the knights were, by design, some of the best soldiers in the kingdom. Even though I knew most of their time with the army would be spent travelling or camping outside of the city of Deorun. Knowing all that did little to dispel the fear.

Part of me wished I was going with them. But Tannix wanted me safe, and I wanted to give him that peace of mind. The last thing I wanted was to be a distraction. So instead, I would stay in East Draulin with Mayah, both of us worrying and wondering and doing our best to think about other things.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed before Tannix stirred. With his eyes still closed, he reached for me, only to realize I wasn't lying beside him. After a moment he rubbed his face and opened his eyes. I stared at his beautiful blue eyes, trying to commit every detail to memory.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"Nobody's come to get me?"

I swallowed. "Not yet."

Tannix sat up. I let my gaze trail over his exposed chest as the blanket fell around his hips. I wanted to memorize everything about him, every line of muscle, the way his hair fell over his forehead, his eyes, everything—the same way I could recall maps in perfect detail.

When he reached for me, I caught his hand and pressed the amulet into his palm. He pulled back to look at it. "What is this?"

I shuffled a little closer, so my knees were touching him. "It's a Zianesa amulet. Joen helped me make it. Well... Joen made it, I just did the design." I poked the amulet, as if he wouldn't know where to look. "Um... the mountains. They represent Zianesa. If you wear it, she'll protect you. If your Goddess wouldn't be offended, I mean."

He flipped the amulet to inspect the back, but there was nothing there to see. "You made this?"

"Well, Joen—"

Tannix kissed me. It was fleeting, he turned his attention back to the amulet almost immediately. "I don't think she'll mind." He untied the knot in the cord, and then tied it around his neck. The amulet settled against his skin and I couldn't help but reach out to touch it.

Tannix caught my hand and held it against his chest. I could feel the steady thumping of his heart, and it brought to mind how fragile he was. How easily that thumping could stop.

"Finagale," he said softly, drawing me back from the dark thoughts. "I love you."

Then I was on his lap, so quickly I barely registered myself moving. I cupped his face in both hands and kissed him.

The remainder of the morning passed in a blur, and before long I was standing near Mayah on a huge staircase, watching the men prepare. Tandrin and Queen Navire were making a big show of it. Tandrin was dressed in heavy armour that was just a touch fancier than what his guards were wearing. A chainmail tunic, chest and back plates, shoulder armour and braces, metal boots and grieves. Tandrin finished off the look with a gold cloak, and instead of a helmet, his crown sat on his blond hair. Sir Eppson wore a short gold cape, to signify his position as guard captain. A younger rider, not one of Tandrin's knights, was sitting on a horse nearby holding a flagpole. The base of the pole rested in a sleeve near the young man's foot, so he wasn't bearing the entire weight of it with one hand.